Charles Richard “Rich” Waskiewicz, 69, passed away after a long illness on 6 August 2023.
Born 25 November 1953 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to William and Rita (Jarres) Waskiewicz, Rich received an Associates degree from Miami Dade Junior College, his Bachelors from Florida International University and his Masters from the University of Pittsburgh where he met his future wife of 42 years in the same Public and International Affairs program. Rich then went on to have a long career in economic development, working first for the Small Business Administration in Washington, DC and a field office in Trenton, NJ. He was then brought in by the Travelers Insurance Company to lead their small business initiatives. From there he spent the next dozen years at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies as the business manager and director of research grants. It was said that he then moved from ‘trees’ to ‘bones’ when he joined the Musculoskeletal Institute at the University of Connecticut Health Center in the same position.
It was during his time at Yale that he developed his own personal love of forestry and bought his two tree farms in Florida, continuing to this day to put stewardship of the land into practice. Chairing the Inland Wetlands & Water Courses Commission for the Town of Orange was a natural progression, combining his love of nature with civic engagement, which public service he continued in several ways throughout the years in our hometown.
Known to many as ‘Papa,’ it is a title he earned and deserved. Papa was funny and had a quick sense of humor. No matter the situation he knew how to mingle, work a room or tell a joke that would make you feel at ease such that you could have been friends forever even if you’d just met. And no matter whose path he would cross, he would be the first to say thank you for being here.
Beyond his commitment to education, devotion to hard work and a life-long thirst for knowledge – each a value he instilled in his daughters – Rich had a passion for photography, travel, food and cooking, and soccer. He was also an avid Boston Red Sox fan, something he so enjoyed sharing with his ‘three girls.’
To the best Papa, you will always be with us. May your memory be eternal.
Rich leaves behind his loving wife, Cynthia Anasson, and their beloved daughters Eleni A. Waskiewicz and Nina G. Waskiewicz; sister Bonnie Wolf, brother Bill Waskiewicz and sister Cindy Rose Waskiewicz (Noel Pelella), sister-in-law Karen Anasson-Dooley (Kevin Dooley) as well as many nieces and nephews both here and in Greece. Rich’s family would like to express their deepest gratitude to his extended care team at Yale New Haven Health - Smilow Cancer Hospital (amongst the many were Dr. Harriet Kluger and Dr. Mary Barden), UConn Heath Center (Dr. Upendra Hegde) as well as the Orange Visiting Nurse Association, in the long journey he undertook with their help to control the disease that had afflicted him. In addition to his parents, Rich was preceded in death by his brother Daniel.
Visiting hours and a funeral service will be held from 2-5 p.m. this SUNDAY, 13 August 2023, at the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street, Milford, Connecticut. The funeral service is to begin at 4:30 p.m. Burial will be private. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made either to the Environmental Defense Fund (www.edf.org) or to the Closer to Free Fund for Smilow Cancer Hospital (www.givetoynhh.org).
To light a candle or leave a condolence, please continue to www.codywhitefuneralservice.com/tributes/CharlesRichardRich-Waskiewicz
